hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē 

hungrier; hungriest

1

a

: feeling an uneasy or painful sensation from lack of food : feeling hunger

b

: characterized by or characteristic of hunger or appetite

a wolf with hungry eyes

2

a

: eager, avid

hungry for affection

b

: strongly motivated (as by ambition)

hungry investors

a power-hungry politician

3

: not rich or fertile : barren

a hungry soil

hungrily

ˈhəŋ-grə-lē 

adverb

hungriness

ˈhəŋ-grē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• empty
• famished
• peckish [chiefly British]
• starved
• starving

Examples of hungry in a Sentence

There are millions of hungry people throughout the world.

That girl is always hungry.

The prisoners' families were hungry for more information.

They were hungry to learn more.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though she’s excelled on the NCAA stage – helping LSU to its 2024 title and earning multiple SEC titles, McClain is hungry for more. —Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

But after the county launched an aggressive public campaign to educate residents about securing garbage containers that attract hungry bears with no access to a natural food supply, incident reports plummeted. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2025

So before the first guest turned up, there was enough food for a hungry crowd. —Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025

The bucket stretched the Pacers’ lead to 10 with 2:30 remaining, a cushion just enough to keep the hungry Knicks away. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hungrig; akin to Old English hungor

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hungry

• go hungry

Kids Definition

hungry

adjective

hun·​gry ˈhəŋ-grē 

hungrier; hungriest

1

: feeling or showing hunger

2

: eager, avid

hungry for all the details

hungrily

-grə-lē 

adverb